01/19/2004 1:00 PM ET

Expectations high for Choi

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

MIAMI -- Meet the Marlins' new first baseman, Hee Seop Choi, who, in a strange coincidence, was lured to the Major Leagues by the father of Florida's former first baseman Derrek Lee.

Choi landed in Marlins' teal last November in a trade that sent Gold Glove-winner Lee to the Cubs.

 

Choi was signed out of Korea by Lee's father, Leon, formerly the Cubs' Pacific Rim coordinator.

 

While the younger Lee has emerged as a premier first baseman, the senior Lee sees similar potential in Choi.

 

Choi, who turns 25 in March, will be given every opportunity to win the starting job in Spring Training. If he lives up to expectations, the Marlins will fill their need for a left-handed power hitter.

 

According to Leon Lee, Choi's early Major League numbers are deceptive. As a rookie the rangy, 6-foot-5, 240-pound Choi hit .218, with eight home runs and 28 RBIs, in 80 games, and struck out 71 times in 202 at-bats. His season was marred in June by a concussion suffered in a scary collision with teammate Kerry Wood.

 

With Choi now healthy, Leon Lee envisions solid numbers from the infielder in his new home.

 

"He's basically a good line-drive hitter," said Leon Lee. "A player like Choi, once he matures a little bit and gets his rhythm and hits the ball the way he is capable of hitting it, that is going to translate into a lot of doubles. He will be a good, productive hitter.

 

"He can get a lot of extra-base hits. He has the ability to hit triples and doubles. And if he has that power, he's going to hit home runs anywhere."

 

Whereas Choi is looked upon as a future star, Lee is a rising star whom the defending World Series champions reluctantly moved after facing budgetary restraints.

 

In doing so, the Marlins dealt a durable, athletic player regarded by many as the top fielding first baseman in the league.

 

Lee's power is to center and right center, which led to a number of long fly outs in spacious Pro Player Stadium. At hitter-friendly Wrigley Field, Lee may reach the 40-homer plateau.

 

Although Pro Player isn't particularly kind to lefties with power, Choi's game seems better suited to the stadium than Lee's.

 

"As strong as Hee Seop is, and the way Pro Player Stadium is set up -- to me -- it's not going to hold him back," said Leon Lee. "Derrek is a little more of a lofty hitter, so Pro Player can hurt him a little bit."

 

Assessing Choi's swing, Lee added: "He's got great power both ways [left-center and right-center]. I think he struggled with his balance and his feet last year. He was getting down in a crouch. They finally got him up more, and a better grip with his hands. He's short and quick to the ball, that's his strength. When he gets loopy [with an uppercut swing], then he struggles."

 

Choi promises to be one of the early Spring Training projects of Marlins hitting coach Bill Robinson.

 

With refinement and playing time, Leon Lee sees Choi becoming an impact player.

 

"Without a doubt," he said. "I felt that from the start when I first signed him. His minor-league development went really well, but he almost was a year late going to the big leagues. When I say a year late, it's not because of his development. He went through some hitting changes that held him back some. He was almost there with his hitting stance. And then he fell backward."

 

Entering 2003, Choi was regarded as a favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, which eventually went to Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

 

Choi got off to a solid start, hitting five home runs and driving in 14 runs in April.

 

His season took a turn for the worse in June, when he collided with Wood in a game against the Yankees. Choi's head slammed to the ground, and he was taken off the field in an ambulance.

 

"I think it scared him," said Leon Lee. "I talked to him in the hospital. He didn't want me to worry about him. But I think it made him a little gun-shy. It was a pretty scary situation. [Afterward], his delivery at the plate was a little off, and his confidence was a little shaky. But all in all, from my experience, I think Hee Seop is going to be an impact guy over there, without a doubt."

 

Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

That was one of the ebst trades made this offseason. I think Choi is going to do awesome, look at his obp.

That was one of the ebst trades made this offseason. I think Choi is going to do awesome, look at his obp.

he seems to be a little like DLee in that regard... he'll strike out and isn't a .300-type hitter, but he takes walks too, so his OBP stays high.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing him in spring training.

But my favorite thing (if what I have been told is true) about Choi is that unlike our famed previous first baseman, he can hit in the clutch.

I like Big Choi. He gets good lift on the ball, smacking it with power to all fields. The only things that worry me are the lack of southpaws he has actually faced in the bigs and how he swings through so many pitches.

And how may i ask can u prove that choi is clutch? u have nothing to back that up he hasnt even played a full season yet. your just trying to justify your arguement

And how may i ask can u prove that choi is clutch?

Can you prove he is not?

lets just hope he is clutch we might need it this year.

ur the one that said he was clutch now prove he is..your not gonna turn it around on me now lets see how u back up your point.

ur the one that said he was clutch now prove he is..your not gonna turn it around on me now lets see how u back up your point.

No, you are challenging my statement, you have the burden of proof. You have no reason to believe he does not come through in the clutch, do you? Then Know Your Role and Shut Your Mouth.

ok then ima start throwin out assumptions just like you.mmm let me think ..castro is gonna hit 40 homers yea!! umm aj is gonna win 23 games!!!! prove me wrong

But my favorite thing (if what I have been told is true) about Choi is that unlike our famed previous first baseman, he can hit in the clutch.

 

Let us play "Point out the assumption".

Damn, one person makes a comment based on what he has been told by someone else and it turns into a friggin debate ?!?!?!?!?!

Sheff is an idiot, don't worry about it.

and u are my biatch and if i knew you youd already be dead

I was gonna make a relevant comment on the topic of this thread, but after the last few posts, nevermind

I was gonna make a relevant comment on the topic of this thread, but after the last few posts, nevermind

Don't hold yourself by the comments of Sheff, he hasn't realized no one likes him yet.

i dont mean to throw (kerry) wood into sheff#1's fire, but how can anyone who batted .218 last season and .180 the previous season qualify as "clutch"?

 

did he bat .400 in clutch situations and .050 in all other situations?

Alkazoid, I don't go by stats first off. Second off, like I highlited before.....you know what, let me bring it back because apparently people can't read:

 

(if what I have been told is true)

Clutch is not an ability readable by stat. I have not seen Choi play often. Therefore, syllogism suggests that the conclusion be I don't know for sure just yet. But I have heard, from people who have seen him play, that he is clutch.

 

I swear to God there is negative reading comprehension on this board. Didn't you all have to take the f***ing FCAT?

took it 3 years ago passed it... and i dont care who doesnt like me cuz it seems the only ppl who dont like me are the ppl that i stand up to and challenge their comments because they think they can make a comment and assume everyone goes along with it..well im not a follower and i like ppl to back their s*** up with facts.

took it 3 years ago passed it...

If you passed it I fear for the future of the state.

well im not a follower and i like ppl to back their s*** up with facts.

Why don't you hold youself to the same standards?

 

Here, you might be interested in this:

Main Entry: hyp?o?crite

Pronunciation: 'hi-p&-"krit

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English ypocrite, from Old French, from Late Latin hypocrita, from Greek hypokritEs actor, hypocrite, from hypokrinesthai

Date: 13th century

: a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion

- hypocrite adjective

i understood very well that you were told by others that he is clutch. that is why i didnt question your ability to perceive his clutchness... it was understood that you were told this by others. i am questioning their assessment of his clutchness, not yours.

 

though clutchness isn't wholly measurable by stats, i think it is pretty safe to say that a person who bats .100 can NOT be clutch. doubling your batting average in a pressure situation isn't enough, in my book, to qualify as clutch if your batting average sucks to begin with.

 

that said, i don't know if choi is clutch or not since i've never seen him play. however, looking at his stats from last year:

 

.218 batting average

.220 with none on

.215 with runners on

.170 with runners in scoring position

 

i can tell you with a very high degree of confidence that hee seop choi did not come through in the clutch last year.

 

if your friends have seen him play at a level other than the major league level, then i will accept their assessment of his prior clutchness.

 

in any case, i have very high hopes for little hee seop. i think he'll have a mighty fine year.

your hypocrite statements and definitions made no sense at all

Alkazoid, good points. But I think the injury last year affected him alot.

 

Sheff, you don't deserve an answer.